HLAA Updates Feedhttp://www.hearingloss.org/about-hlaa/who-we-are/news-releases
enHLAA Position Opening: National Walk4Hearing Assistanthttp://www.hearingloss.org/content/hlaa-position-opening-national-walk4hearing-assistant
<div class="field field-name-field-advocacy-posted-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Wed, 02/25/2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
<p>
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) a nonprofit organization and the producer of the Walk4Hearing, the single biggest hearing loss-awareness event in the country, is seeking a top-notch, high energy professional to assist the Director of the Walk4Hearing to support and grow walks nationally.</p>
<p>
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:</p>
<ul><li>
Ordering, copying, assembling and shipping all Walk4Hearing materials to local sites as needed.</li>
<li>
Trains and supports volunteer walk administrators to use the donation software</li>
<li>
Handles all online and phone inquiries related to the Walk4Hearing</li>
<li>
Supports HLAA webmaster in production of Walk4Hearing website</li>
<li>
Keeps program materials, both online and print, fresh and updated</li>
<li>
Writes promotional pieces for online newsletter and Hearing Loss Magazine</li>
<li>
Prepares all Walk4Hearing related mailings</li>
<li>
Supports local Walk site volunteers as needed</li>
<li>
Plan and execute the Washington DC Walk4Hearing</li>
<li>
Familiar with using social media for marketing and communication</li>
</ul><p>
Required experience and skills include:</p>
<ul><li>
College graduate or relevant experience</li>
<li>
Great attention to detail</li>
<li>
Able to meet deadlines and work under pressure</li>
<li>
Superb organization and planning</li>
<li>
Excellent communication and writing skills</li>
<li>
Willingness to learn</li>
<li>
Able to work with low supervision</li>
<li>
Self motivated and able to work independently and with a team</li>
<li>
Comfortable handling multiple task simultaneously</li>
<li>
Sensitivity and experience in working with volunteers and people with hearing loss</li>
<li>
Strong computer skills -- MS Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)</li>
<li>
Ability to learn new technology</li>
<li>
Available to travel and work weekends during Walk season.</li>
</ul><p>
This position is full time and is located at our national office in Bethesda. This position reports to the Director of Walk4Hearing.</p>
<p> Please email your resume and cover letter with salary requirements to <a href="mailto:jobs@hearingloss.org">jobs@hearingloss.org</a> with the subject line, “National Walk4Hearing Assistant.” No phone calls please.</p>
<p>
HLAA is an equal employment opportunity employer.</p>
</div>
</div></div></div>Wed, 25 Feb 2015 17:44:23 +0000admin43206 at http://www.hearingloss.orgHLAA Files Comments on Hearing Aid Compatible Cell Phoneshttp://www.hearingloss.org/content/hlaa-comments-fcc-hac-cell-phones-0
<div class="field field-name-field-advocacy-posted-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Wed, 02/11/2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>
HLAA is working to see the day when all hearing aids and cochlear implants link to any cell phone so well that consumers never hear the sound of annoying interference ever again. In fact, we have long sought rules that would mean that all cell phones would be hearing aid compatible. The FCC has asked for comments in their latest Public Notice, and HLAA responded, with the help of other consumer groups, ALDA, TDI, NAD and DHHCAN. In these comments, we urge the FCC to require all wireless mobile phones to be hearing aid compatible. At a time when consumers are abandoning landline phones at record rates, it simply makes sense that the FCC act to ensure consumer with hearing loss do not have to struggle to find a phone that works well with their hearing aid or cochlear implant.</p>
<p>
<a href="/content/hlaa-comments-fcc-hac-cell-phones">[Read more]</a></p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:27:34 +0000admin43200 at http://www.hearingloss.orgHLAA Supports the Reintroduction of the Hearing Aid Tax Credit in the Senatehttp://www.hearingloss.org/content/hlaa-supports-reintroduction-hearing-aid-tax-credit-0
<div class="field field-name-field-advocacy-posted-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Wed, 02/11/2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>
<strong><em>“Hearing aids are essential to enable millions of people with hearing loss to fully engage with family, friends and colleagues.” - Anna Gilmore Hall, executive director, HLAA</em></strong></p>
<p>
Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) reintroduced the bipartisan Hearing Aid Tax Credit (Senate Bill 315) on January 29, 2015, which would provide a $500 credit to people who need a hearing aid. The bill is unchanged from legislation in the 113<sup>th</sup> Congress which was championed by Senators Heller and Tom Harkin of Iowa, now retired. Senator Heller is a member of the Senate Finance Committee which has jurisdiction over all tax legislation including the HATC.</p>
<p>
If enacted, S. 315 would provide a $500 tax credit per hearing aid for people of all ages, or $1,000 if two hearing aids are needed as is usually the case. That would be a critical assist since 61 percent of all hearing aid purchases involve no third-party payment of any kind. Medicare expressly excludes coverage of hearing aids as do most private insurance policies, and as a result, cost is cited as a prohibitive factor by two thirds of the people who do not treat their hearing loss.</p>
<p>
<a href="/content/hlaa-supports-reintroduction-hearing-aid-tax-credit">[Read more]</a></p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 17:16:14 +0000admin43198 at http://www.hearingloss.orgHLAA Files Comments Supporting Signage for Looped Taxis in NYChttp://www.hearingloss.org/content/hlaa-comments-signage-looped-taxis-nyc
<div class="field field-name-field-advocacy-posted-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Wed, 02/11/2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>
HLAA supported local advocacy efforts when we filed comments with the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission urging adoption of rules for signage for taxis in New York City equipped with hearing loops.</p>
<p>
The proposed amendment would provide for a decal on the inside and outside of all taxicabs that have hearing induction loop capability. That decal would feature the International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss, including a “T” and the language “Induction loop installed, switch hearing aid to T-coil” on the interior decal.</p>
<p>
<a href="/sites/default/files/docs/HLAA_NYC_Taxi_Comments.pdf">See our comments</a>.</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 16:57:37 +0000admin43196 at http://www.hearingloss.orgHLAA Supports Utah Legislation Requiring Better Education of Consumershttp://www.hearingloss.org/content/hlaa-supports-utah-HB-112
<div class="field field-name-field-advocacy-posted-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Wed, 02/11/2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>
Hearing Loss Association of America supports Utah State HB 112, which modifies the requirements for practicing as an audiologist or as a hearing instrument specialist by requiring licensed audiologists or licensed hearing instrument specialists to inform each patient about Assistive Listening Systems that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards (section 219) and how hearing instruments interface with these systems.</p>
<p>
<a href="/sites/default/files/docs/HLAA_ltr_supportingUtah_HB112.pdf">See our letter</a>.</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 16:54:08 +0000admin43195 at http://www.hearingloss.orgHLAA Supports Access to the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Eventshttp://www.hearingloss.org/content/hlaa-supports-access-nfl
<div class="field field-name-field-advocacy-posted-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">Wed, 02/11/2015</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>
In August, 2014, a former member of the HLAA Board of Trustees attended events at the Pro Football Hall of Fame (HOF) in Canton, Ohio. She had requested CART in advance, but received no accommodations. When she returned home, she sent a letter asking that future events are communication accessible. She received a response two months later, from the president of HOF, David Baker, stating, “I will make sure that your concerns are known as we begin preparing for the 2015 Enshrinement.”</p>
<p>
In December, HLAA reviewed the HOF website. Four months after the event, and three months after Mr. Baker’s letter, there was no mention of communication access on their website. At this writing, there is mention of accessibility on the ticketing page, but <a href="http://www.profootballhof.com/default.aspx"><strong>their website notes that it is “TBD.”</strong></a> HLAA wrote to Mr. Baker asking for specifics. Assuming they are now willing to provide accommodations for people with hearing loss, how will requests be filled? How will they reach out to the community about access?</p>
<p>
We received a reply in January, 2015. They tell us that they have provided sign language interpreters on request and on the jumbotrons in the past. They are “considering closed captioning as an option” and they appreciate our suggestions about communicating to the public and will add information to the HOF website once tickets go on sale.</p>
<p> HLAA plans to monitor the HOF website. If you or someone you know is planning to attend and need accommodations, please let us know when you make a request, how they respond, and whether the requested accommodation provided effective communication for you. Please send comments to: <a href="mailto:advocacy@hearingloss.org">advocacy@hearingloss.org</a> .</p>
</div></div></div>Wed, 11 Feb 2015 16:45:28 +0000admin43194 at http://www.hearingloss.org